Ceisteanna–Questions. - Departmental Contracts.

Wednesday, 24 May 2000

8.Mr. Quinn
asked the
Taoiseach
to list any public contracts currently held by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12231/00]

9.Mr. Quinn
asked the
Taoiseach
to list any public contracts awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied); the full list of such contracts; the purpose for which they were awarded; if the tax clearance requirements for public contracts were complied with in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12246/00]

10.Mr. Gormley
asked the
Taoiseach
the amount his Department has spent on consultants and public relations since 1997.
[13663/00]

11.Mr. Gormley
asked the
Taoiseach
if his Department engaged a company (details supplied) for any public relations work since June 1997.
[13664/00]

My Department has not engaged this particular company for any public service contracts.

[1344] The total amount spent by my Department on consultancies and public relations services since 1997 is £2,069,334. This includes expenditure of £948,480 incurred by my Department and a further £1,120,854 incurred by the bodies under the aegis of the Department, including the National Economic and Social Council, the National Economic and Social Forum, the millennium committee, the Information Society Commission, the Moriarty tribunal and the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution.

Mr. Quinn:The company in question is the company operated by Mr. Frank Dunlop. I am glad to hear he has not been employed by the Taoiseach's Department.

Of the figures he has given, can the Taoiseach indicate how much of the £2 million relates to public relations contracts and how much is for non-public relations consultancies?

The Taoiseach:There are no public relations consultancies.

Mr. Quinn:In his reply the Taoiseach said, “The total amount spent by my Department on consultancies and public relations services since 1997 is £2,069, 334”. What are public relations services?

The Taoiseach:The Information Society Commission may have some consultancy services but not in my Department. There may also be some in the millennium committee, but not in the Department.

Mr. Gormley:Did Mr. Dunlop have any input into the Taoiseach's speech at the opening of the extension of Merck Sharp and Dohme on 9 December 1999?

The Taoiseach:I doubt that. Speech writers are usually capable of writing their own speeches.

Mr. Gormley:Did Mr. Dunlop have no input?

The Taoiseach:I have no idea. I have spoken at many functions during the past number of years. Information is often supplied by whoever is launching the function but someone in my Department writes my speech.